Houston Texans defensive end J.J. Watt is a three-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year. The only other player in league history to achieve that distinction is Hall of Fame linebacker Lawrence Taylor, who won two Super Bowls with the New York Giants.

What did Lawrence have that Watt doesn’t? An offense that finished in the top 10 in the NFL. Lawrence had that three times in his career, and one of them coincided with Lawrence’s final defensive accolade and the team’s first Super Bowl victory.

The Texans offense has finished in the top 10 only once in Watt’s seven seasons. That 2012 squad was the only NFL team since 1990 to start 11-2 and fail to get a first-round bye, and ended up losing 41-28 in New England as a result.

If the four-time first-team All-Pro had an offense that played as well as his defenses, then he would be playing for championships.

With quarterback Deshaun Watson’s rise, will that offense finally come?

“I think we have a lot of talent in a lot of places on this team,” Watt said. “When you look around, every position group has their players that can be real playmakers and bring a lot to the team in terms of talent.”

According to him, training camp is precisely for determining how to put everything together to execute on game day and not just look good on paper.

“I think we saw glimpses of what the offense is capable of, for sure, last year,” Watt said. “I think we know what this defense is capable of when we’re playing at our highest level. Now, it’s just a matter of making those things all come together at the same time.”

In the six starts Watson had, the offense averaged 34.7 points per game, the most in the NFL from weeks 2-8. Yes, Houston had a bye during that stretch but still maintained the top spot.

There is no time like the present for the 29-year-old, who has played in only eight games the past two seasons. Watt says he is in “a really good place” heading into 2018.

“I feel like I’m starting fresh, which is the goal,” said Watt. “When I started this rehab process, the one thing I wanted to do was earn a clean slate. I wanted to earn a fresh start, earn a chance to go out there, start a training camp from day one, go out there and play. I think that clean slate has come and I have a chance to once again try to write my own story.”

Coach Bill O’Brien is impressed with the shape Watt arrived in at The Greenbrier.

“Came back in great shape,” said O’Brien. “He’s worked really hard. I mean, he’s better to ask about it than me but he’s worked extremely hard to get back to where he’s at. He’s a driven guy, as we all know. He’s a great leader on this team and we’re glad to have him back.”

If O’Brien, who is also the team’s de facto offensive coordinator, can put together an offense that has been as talented as Watt’s defenses, which have finished five times in the top 10 in his career, then Watt should be able to compete for championships at last.

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